Venetian blind

ABSTRACT

The front and rear sidepieces of the ladders are connected to front and rear horizontal runs of a tilt cord at eyelets which are spaced along the horizontal runs. The tilt and lift cords may be connected to individual spool members of a cord-operating unit. The blind is adapted to be combined with a window having metal framing and, where the window has spacing glazings, the ladder-and-slat assembly is adapted to be located between the glazings. The spool members of the cord-operating unit are located at a distance from the horizontal runs of the tilt cord and are adapted to be located in a channel of the window framing.

United States Pateiit 11 1- Debs 1 1 Mar. 5, 1974 1 VENETIAN BLIND3,703,920 11/1972 Debs 160/168 I [75] lnventor: Victor Deb s, StatenIsland, NY.

Primary ExaminerPeter M. Caun [73] Ash'gnee' h y Lorentz, Hoboken,Attorney, Agent, or Firm.Charlcs F. Chisholm [22] Filed: July 6, I972 57ABSTRACT Appl' N04 269,372 The front and rear sidepieces of the laddersare con- Related Application m nected to front and rear horizontal runsof a tilt cord [63] Cminuafl0n in pan of NO 6 395 Jan 28 at eyeletswhich are spaced along the horizontal runs.

1970, Pat. No. 3,703,920.

The tilt and lift cords may be connected to individual spool membersof acord-operating unit. The blind is adapted to be combined with a windowhaving metal 52 us. 01. .L 160/168 [51] Int. Cl. ..E06b 9/30 framingwhere the wmdow has spacing glazmgs [58] Field 01 Search 160/166-178 theladder-and'slat assembly is adapted be located I 1 7 between theglazings. The spool members of the cord- [56] Refepences Cited operatingunit are located at a distance from the horizontal runs of the tilt cordand are adapted to be 10- UNITED STATES PATENTS cated in a channel ofthe window framing. 2,759,535 8/1956 Bcrglind 160/168 3,294,153 12/1966Fountain 160/168 29 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures 82\ as 7? 47d 49 7 at 74126 4 a 45;C K4 aa M l 45a. n 1 11 1" I I I I 45 -11 1 @1 age" I if, 78

45a 7/ k q I J T g 42a 471: 476 47d 7 57; 5 4

PATENTED 51974 sum 1 or 5 b ham wmv W wunv WNW ew JON? vm N Q0 w 6.? Num E N 0 Q E I PATENTEDHAR 5|974 SHEU 2 UF 5 BLT-95.266

PATENTED 5 I974 VENETIAN BLIND RELATED APPLICATIONS The presentapplication is a continuation-inpart of BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAlthough Venetian blinds are now highly developed, the cost of variouscomponentparts has been higher than is desirable, and the space requiredfor the more reliable and durable blinds has been greater than isdesirable. Also most Venetian blinds, and particularly the more reliableandsatisfactory ones, have not been well adapted for being combined withwindows having metal framing, particularly if these windows were doubleglazed and it was desired to locate the ladder-andslat assembly oftheblind between the glazings. In various instances only very limited spaceis available for installation ofa Venetian blind. The prior Venetianblind constructions and arrangements that have been for use in severelylimited space have been constructions and arrangements which left muchto be desired as regards speed and ease of assembly and installation andalso as regards reliability and durability after installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION manufactured and installed at low cost,having'in mind the reliability and operating characteristics'thattheblind affords. Moreover the blind of the present invention can becombined readily with a window having metal framing, the ladder-and-slatassembly of. the blind being placed between the glazings if'the windowhas double glazings. I

Among the freatures and aspects afforded by thev presently preferredforms of the invention are: The slattilting means includes a tilt cordwhich is shiftable longitudin ally of itself and has one ortwohorizontalruns to which eyelets are affixed. The upper ends of the laddersidepicces are provided with barbs which are inserted through theeyelets to connect the ladder sidepieces to the tilt cord. The portionof the tilt cord to which the eyelets are affixed is preferably offinelystranded stainless steel. Cord-operatingmeans is operatively connectedto the horizontal runs to shift them longitudinally of themselves totilt the slats of the blind. The cord-operating means is located at adistance from the horizontal runs and cord, which is considered to bepart ofthe tilt cord, connects the horizontal runs to the cordoperatingmeans,

Among other features and aspects afforded by certain presently preferredforms of the invention are: A single cord-operating unit is operativefor manipulating the lift cords as well as the tilt cord. The tilt cordand thelift cords are operatively connccted to individual spool membersofsuch cord-operating unit. A common operator is in continuoustorque-imparting relation to both of the'spool members, and slippage isprovided'at the tilt-cord spool-member upon full tilting being.

reached. Additionally, slippage is provided between the common operatorand both the lift-cord spool-member and the tilt-cord spool-member uponfull raising of the blind being reached. The cord-operating unitincludes means which acts as a brake that obviates fortuitous loweringof the slats due to their weight. The connection of the horizontal runsof the tilt cord to the tiltcord spool-member includes a length of cordthat engages the spool member at an intermediate portion of such length,and the connection of the vertical runs of the lift cords to thelift-cord spool-member includes a length of cord that is secured to thelift-cord spoolmember at one end of such length. The two spool membersare rotated by a shaft that-is'in continuous torqueimparting relation toeach of the spool members, and the shaft is journalled in a bearingblock which is adapted to be mounted on the framing of the window.

Cord which is drawn taut connects the horizontal runs of the tilt cordto the remotely located tiltcord spool-member; and the invention affordsquick, convenient and reliable securing of such'cord to retain'it taut.

To this end there is provided an'elongated sheet-steel BRIEF DESCRIPTIONoF THE DRAWINGS, WHICH sHow THE PREsE LY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THEINVENTION FIG. 1 is a top planview, with portions broken away, ofafirst'Venetian blind in accordance with the invention. The tassels forthe tilt cord and the tassel and anchor for the lift cord are omitted;for'these see FIG. 2. Window-frame structure and glazings with which theblindvmay be associated are indicated diagrammatically in dot-dashlines.

FIG.'2'is a view, with portions broken away, taken generally on the line22 of FIG. 1'. Visible: portions which hang from the head of the blindare shown fragmentarily, and ananchor forthe lift cords is showndiagrammatically. Window-frame structure and glazings with which theVenetian blindmay be associated ar indicated diagrammatically indot-dash lines.

- FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2showing the head channel and also showing the cord-guide unit throughwhich the line 3-3 passes. A lift-cord fragment and a fragment of theladder-andslat assembling are indicated in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 4 is a plan view, to a larger scale than FIGS. 1 and 2, showing thelower die of an. eyelet-setting tool with an eyelet in position forsetting and with a fragment of a single tilt cord in position to receivethe eye- Ietasitisset. v I

FIG. 5 is a vertical section on the'lin'e 5 5 of FIG. 4, with the upperdie of the setting-tool added.

FIG. 6 is a plan view, withportio'ns broken away, showing a loopedsingle-tilt-cord with four eyelets affixed thereto as prepared forincorporation into the first Venetian blind as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 77 of FIG. 6, showingthe eyelet clinched to the single tilt cord of FIGS. 1,2, and 6.

FIG. 8 is a vertical section on line 88.of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view, with portions broken away, of a secondVenetian blind in accordance with the in vention. The means formanipulating the tilt and lift cords are omitted.

FIG. 10 is a view, with portions broken away, taken generally on theline 1010 of FIG. 9. The ladder-andslat assembly of the blind isomitted, but depending fragments of the ladders and the associated liftcords are shown. The means for manipulating the tilt and lift cords areomitted.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross section on the line ll1l of FIG. 10, thelift and tilt cords being omitted.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view on the line 12l2 of FIG. 11, portions ofthe tilt cord and portions of the liftcord means being indicated indot-dash lines.

FIG. 13 is a plan view, with portions broken away, showing a loopeddouble-tilt-cord element with four eyelets affixed thereto as preparedfor incorporation into the second Venetian blind as shown in FIGS. 9 andFIG. 14 is an enlarged section on the line l4l4 of FIG. 13, showing theeyelet clinched .to the double tiltcord-element of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view, corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a fragmentof the double-tilt-cord element of FIG. 13 in position to have an eyeletclinched to both of the branches of the double tilt-cord element.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the lift-cord equalizer, a cord fragmentbeing indicated in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 17 is a sectional elevation showing in vertical section a fragmentof a metal-channel which constitutes one of the jambs of metal windowframing, e.g. the framing of the sash. The plane of the section isperpendicular to the expanse of the window opening. The tilt cord ofFIGS. 9 and 10 and also the lift-cord means of FIGS. 9 and 10 are shownextending downwardly in the channel and operatively connected to acordoperating unit which is attached to the channel.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the tilt-cord spoolmember, to which thetilt cord is shown connected in FIG. 17, a fragment of the tilt cordbeing included in FIG. 18.

FIG. 19 is an elevation looking from the'left of FIG. 18, with a diagramadded to indicate the manner in which the tilt cord is wound about thetilt-cord spoolmember before that spool member is 'put in place in thecord-operating unit.

FIG. 20 is a largely diagrammatic top plan view, with portions brokenaway, of a third Venetian blind in accordance with the invention.Various parts are in exploded relation and relevant relationships areindicated by broken lines. Omitted are certain lift and tilt cordconnections between the head of the blind and the remotely-locatedcord-operating unit; for these see FIG. 21.

FIG. 21 is a largely diagrammatic view; with portions broken away, takengenerally on the line 2121 of FIG. 20, parts being in exploded relationsimilarly to FIG. 20. i

FIG. 21A is a front elevation of the presently preferred connector, forthe cord, that is shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 21B is a view in section of the presently preferred connector,taken on the line 21B21B of'FIG. 21A.

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary top plan view, largely diagrammatic, showing aportion of the cord-operating unit with the tilt cord in a position thatdiffers from the position that is shown in FIG. 20.'

FIG. 23 is a top plan view of the eyelet-carrying portion of the tiltcord, with the eyelets affixed thereto.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view ofa sheet-metal eyeletproviding stampingpreparatory to being affixed to the tilt cord.

FIGS. 25, 26 and 27 are large scale diagrammatic views illustrating theuse of a punch and die to attach the eyelet-providing stamping of FIG.24 to the tilt cord. The eyelet and the tilt cord are seen in crosssection in FIGS. 25 and 26, and the tilt cord is seen in elevation inFIG. 27 which is taken generally on the line 27-27 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a top-plan detail-view showing the tilt cord and theretoaffixed eyelet as removed from the die of FIGS. 2s 27.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS THAT ARE PRESENTLY PREFERRED Thepresently preferred embodiments of the invention, taken collectively,afford all of the features set forth in the summary of the invention andafford addi tional features which will be apparent from the drawingsplus the description plus the claims. Except as may be otherwiseindicated,'the description hereinafter that is prior to the claimsrefers to one or more of the particular forms of the invention that areshown in the drawings; it does not necessarily refer to any other formor forms in which the invention may be embodied. The claims, however, doembrace other forms in which the invention may be embodied. The bestmodes thus far contemplated of carrying out the invention are disclosed.Nevertheless the disclosure'is by way of illustration and example, sinceother specific modes are possible and it is left to the manufacturerand/or the user to dispense with any feature or features that are notneeded for his purpose.

Reference will now be had to FIGS. 1-8, which deal with the firstVenetian blind that is disclosed. A ladderand-slat assembly isdesignated as a whole by 40 and includes sheet-metal slats 41 which aresupported by two string ladders each of which is designated as a wholeby 42. The laddcr-and-slat assembly is suspended beneath ahorizontally-extending support or head that is designated as a whole by44. The head that is shown may be considered as consisting of thesheetmetal channel 45 and the theretofa'ttached units and elements whichguide the tiltcord and the lift cords.

Above the ladders 42 the head 44 has duplicate cordguide units, eachdesignated as a whole by 46. Space on the drawing being limited, thereference characters for the units 46 are divided between the two unitsto some extent. Each cord-guide unit 46 has a U-shaped sheetmetal body47 that is nested as shown within the head channel 45, the bottom 47a ofthe cord-guide-unit body being against the bottom 45a of the headchannel and the sides 47b and 470 of the cord-guide-unit body beingagainst the sides 45b and 45c of the head channel. The bottom 47a of thebody of each of the guide units 46 is attached to the bottom 45a of thehead channel by three conventional metal eyelets 48, 4'9, and 50. Theseeyelets, which may be considered as partof the cordguide unit 46, passthrough the bottom 47a of the cordguide body and thence through thebottom 45a of the head channel. The eyelets 48, 49, and 50 also do cordguiding, as will be explained. A sleevelike cylindrical roller 51 is ona shaft which extends between the sides 47b and 47c of theU-shaped'cord-guide-unit body 47. Two sleevelike cylindrical rollers 52and 53, each about half of the length of roller 51, are end-to-end onanother shaft which extends between the two sides 47b and 47c of thecord-guide-unit body 47. To facilitate free turning of the rollers 51,52, and 53, four annular beads 47d are pressed out from the sides 47band 47c and loosely confront the adjacent ends of the rollers.

At its right-hand end in FIGS. 1 and 2 the head 44 and a cord-guide unitwhich is designated as a wholeby 56. The cord-guide unit 56 has asheet-metal body 57 which is nested within the head channel but aportion of which projects forwardly through a cut-out in the front wall45b of the head channel. The body 57 of the cord-guide unit 56 has sixwalls, viz., a bottom wall 57a which is against the bottom wall 45a ofthe head channel, side walls 57b and 57c which are against the sidewalls'45b and 45c of the head channel, an end wall 57d which extendsacross the end of the head channel, a top wall 57e which is spacedupwardly from thebottom wall 57a and a small vertical-wall 57f whichdepends from the top wall 57c and is laterally spaced from the end wall57d as is best seen in FIG. 2. A sleevelike cylindrical roller 58 is ona horizontal shaft which extends between the side walls 57b and 57 c.Sleevelike cylindrical rollers 59 and 60 are on vertical shafts whichextend between the bottom wall 57a and the top wall 57c. A nonrotatingcylindrical guide 61 is on a horizontal rivet which extends between theend wall 57d and the small vertical wall 57f. To facilitate free turningof the rollers 58, 59, and 60 their ends may be loosely confronted -bypressed-out annular beads similar to the beads 47d ofthe cord-guide'units 46. The cord-guide unit 56 is secured to the head channel byeyelets 64, 65, 66, and 67 which pass through the bottom wall 57a of thecord-guide unit and thence through the bottom 45a. of the head channel.The eyelet 67, however, is a long tubular eyelet which also" passesthrough the top wall 572.

A tilt cord is designated as awhol'e by 68. It is shiftablelongitudinally of itself by pulling on one or the other of tassels 69and 70'which are on the two ends of the tilt cord. The tilt cord has avertical run 68a, a front horizontal-run 68b within the head channel,45, a rear horizontal run 68c within the headchannel 45, and anothervertical run 68d. Between the vertical run68a and the front horizontalrun 68b the tilt cord is guided through two 90 turns by guide 61androller 59. Between the front and rear horizontal-runs 68b and 68c thetilt cord is guided through a 180 turn by pulley 69, whereby the frontand rear horizontal runs are movable in opposite directions. The pulley69 is mounted on the bottom 45a of the head channel and is rotatable onafixedly-positioned vertical axis. Between the rear hori zontal-run 68cand the vertical run 68d the tilt cord is uided throu h two 90 turns byroller 60 and guide 61. g g

Affixed to the front horizontal run 6812 of the tilt cord there are twoconventional sheet-metal eyelets 71 which are spaced apart by a distanceapproximately equal to the distance between the two ladders 42. Likeeyelets are affixed to the rear horizontal run 68c, beingdesignated by72 and being spaced apart by approximately the same distance. The mannerof affixing the eyelets 71 and 72 to the tilt cord will be explained.

Each ladder 42 (see particularly FIG. 3) has cordlike sidepieces, thefront sidepiece being designated 42a and the rear sidepiece beingdesignated 42b. The slats 41 rest on crosspieces or rungs 42c whichextend between the side-pieces 42a and 42b. The sidepieces 42a and 42bof each ladder extend upwardly into the cord-guide unit 46 that is abovethe ladder. The front sidepiece 42a passes through the eyelet 50 and isguided thereby, after which it passes over the top of I roller 53 andthence toward the nearby eyelet 71. The rear sidepiece 42b of the ladderpasses upwardly through the eyelet 48 and is guided thereby, after whichit passes over the roller 52 and extends toward the nearby eyelet 72.

The upper end of each ladder sidepiece is provided with a sheet-metalfitting 74 which will be called a barb.

Viewed as in FIG. 1, the left-handv half 74a of the barb is tubular, andthe right-hand half 74b is channelshaped. The tubular half 74a iscrimped around the end, portion of the cordlike sidepiece 42a or 42b ofthe ladders and is also provided with a pair of sharp indentations as at75c which augment the attachment of the barb to the sidepiece 420 or42b. The upper ends of the ladder sidepieces 42a and 4212 are connectedto the horizontal runs of the tilt cord by inserting the barbs 74lengthwise through the tilt-cord-affixed eyelets. Once the barb has beenpassed completely through the eyelet, pull on the sidepiece is at thecenter of the length of the barb, whereby the barb positions itselfcrosswise of the eyelet as seen in FIG. 1 and secures the end of theladder sidepiece to the tilt cord.

The front sidepieces 42a of the ladders are connected to the fronthorizontal'run 68b .of the tilt cord, and the rear sidepieces 42b of theladders are connected to the rear horizontal run 68c of the tilt cord,all as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the tassel 69 is pulled downwardlythe front horizontal-run 68b of the tiltcord is shifted to the right andthe rearv horizontal-run 68c is shifted to the left, whereby the frontsidepieces 42a of the ladders are lowered and the rear sidepieces 42b ofthe ladders let-setting tool having a lower eyelet-receiving die andhaving an upper die which is brought down against the small end of theeyelet. To the conventional lower die there is added a sleeve whichembraces that die, the sleeve being diametrically slotted to receive andposition the tilt cord for the crimping of the eyelet about the tiltcord. In FIGS. 4 and 5 one of the eyelets 72 is in position on the lowereyelet-receiving die 75. The die has been supplemented by a metal sleeve76 which embraces the die 75 and is provided with two diametricallyopposite slots 76a. The rear run 68c of the tilt cord is shown in placein the slots 76a, passing in a semicircle .around the tubular portion ofthe eyelet as shown in FIG. 4. The eyelet is crimped in conventionalmanner by bringing down the upper die 77, thereby setting" or crimpingthe eyelet with a semicircumference of the eyelet crimped about the cordbranch 680. In FIG. 7 the crimped eyelet is seen in section takenlongitudinally of the cord. In FIG. 8 the eyelet is seen in sectiontaken transversely of the cord.

The ladder-and-slat assembly 40 of the blind will ordinarily have asuitable bottom bar at the bottom, from which two lift cords extendupwardly through the slats for raising and lowering the slots. The twolift cords may be, and usually are, provided by a continuous length ofcord having two branches extending from a bight. Each branch isordinarily referred to as a lift cord, and it will be convenient toconsider that there are two lift cords even though the two cords may beprovided by two' branches of a continuous cord.

Associated with each ladder 42 there is a lift cord 78 which extendsupwardly into the cord-guide fitting 46 that is above the ladder. Eachlift cord 78 passes through eyelet 49 and is guided thereby, after whichit passes over the roller 51 of the associated cordguide unit 46. Thelift-cord 78 which comes up into the lefthand cord-guide unit 46 (FIGS.land 2) continues to the right and also passes over the roller 51 of therighthand cord-guide unit 46. From the roller l.of the right-handcord-guide unit 46 the two lift cords 78 continue to the right, passover the roller 58, make a 90 bend about the roller 60, make another 90bend about the cord guide 61, and then hang down in thefront of theblind where the two lift cords are jointly attached to a tassel 79 bywhich the lift cords are pulled in and payed out to raise and lower theslats of the blind. When the slats are raised or partially raised, thelift cords can be secured by any suitable means. One secur ing meansthat may be used is a cord-gripping anchor, shown diagramatically at 80,which is attached to the framing of the window and about which the liftcords may be wound.

The term window will be used as embracing the opening in the buildingwall proper, the framing which lines such opening, the glazing orglazings, and the framing (if any) which is interposed between theglazings and the framing which lines the opening in the building wall. v

The blind of FIGS. l-3 is adapted to be combined with a window bysecuring the head 44 to a lintel of the framing, the expanse of theladder-and-slat assembly confronting the glazing in the'case of asingle-glazed window, and the ladder-and-slat assembly being between theglazings in the ease of a double-glazed window. As seen in FIG. I, theleft-hand end of the head has a hole 45d in the bottom of the headchannel through which an attaching screw maybe inserted to attach theleft-hand end of the head to the lintel. As also seen in FIG. I, theright-hand end of the head has a hole 450 through which an attachingscrew may be inserted to attach the right-hand end of the head to the.

lintel. The hole 450 extends through the bottom 45a of the head channeland also through the bottom and top walls 57a and 57a of the body 57 ofthe cord-guide fitting 56.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the framing and glazings of a double-glazed window withwhich the blind may be combined are indicated diagrammaticallyindot-dash line. The lintel of the framing is a channel 81 having itsopen side directed downwardly, and the jambs of the framing are channels82 and 83 having their open sidesdirected toward one another. The head44 of the blind is nested within the lintel-channel 81; it is attachedthereto by means of screws inserted through the holes 45d and 452, ashas been explained. The window has inside and outside glazings which areindicated diagrammatically, the inside glazing being designated by 85and the outside glazing being designated by 86. The anchor 80 for thetilt cords, which has already been referred to, is attached to the jamb83.

Reference will now be had to FIGS. 9-l6 which deal with the secondVenetian blind that is disclosed, these figures being on Sheet 2 exceptfor FIGS. ll, 12, and 16 which are on Sheet 3. The cord-operating unitof the second blind isnt shown in any of these figures and will bedescribed after FIGS. 9-16 have been discussed.

The second Venetian blind has features in common with the first Venetianblind. Both have a head consisting essentially of a sheet-metalhead-channel and the thereto-attached units and elements which guide thetilt cord and the lift cords. Both have the same ladderand-slatassembly, both have a head channel made from the same channel stock,both have a tilt cord with front and rear hotizontal'runs in the headchannel, both have the sidepieces of the ladders connected in the sameway to the horizontal runs of the tilt cord, and in both the head hassimilar cord-guide units above the ladders. Some reference charactersused for the first Venetian blind are applied to identical parts shownin figures relating to the second Venetian blind.

In the secondVenetian blind the ladder-and-slat assembly (not shown) issuspended beneath a horizontally extending support or head that isdesignated as a whole by 144. The head 144 consists essentially of thesheet-metal channel 145 and the thereto-attached units and elementswhich guide the tilt cord and the lift cord. The channel has bottom wall145a and side walls 145/) and -l45c.

Above the ladders (not shown) the head 144 has duplicate cord-guideunits each designated as a whole by 146. These cord-guide units are thesame as the cordguide units 46 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 except for theomission of the rollers-52 and 53 and their common shaft. Referencecharacters have been carried over from FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 to FIGS. 9 and10 to designate the parts of the cord-guide unit 146 which are the sameas the parts of the cord-guide unit 46 including the eyelets whichattach the bodies of the cord-guide units to the bottom of the headchannel.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 the front and rear horizontal runs of the tilt cord,though double cords instead of single cords, are provided with the sameeyelets as in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIGS. 9 and 10 the front and rearsidepieces of the ladders come up through the eyelets in the bottoms ofthe cord-guide units and are connected to the front and rear horizontalruns of'the tilt cords in the same way as in FIGS. 1 and 2, even thoughthe rollers 52 and 53 of FIGS. I and 2 are missing and the sidepieces ofthe ladders proceed directly from the eyelets 48 and 50 to the eyelets72 and 71. Reference characters from FIGS. 1 and 2 have been carriedover to FIGS. 9 and 10 to designate the same parts as regards theside-pieces of the ladders and their connection to the horizontal runsof the tilt cord.

As its right-hand end in FIGS. 9 and 10 the head 144 has a cord-guideunit which is designated as a whole by 156; see also FIGS. 11 and 12. Asviewed in FIG. 10 the cord-guide unit 156 includes a formation which isT- shaped but turned on its right side, this formation being composed ofa horizontal flange 156a and a vertical flange 156b. The cord-guide unit156 also includes a cylindrical boss 1560 which projects to the rightfrom the vertical flange as viewed in FIGS. 9, 10, and 12. The flanges156a and l56b and the boss 1566 may be fabricated from sheet metal, maybe die-cast in one piece of metal, or be molded in one piece of suitableplastic. The cord-guide unit 156 also includes one or more eyelets ortubular rivets 156d (one shown) by which it is attached to theright-hand end of the head channel 145, the flange 156a being beneaththe head channel and the attaching eyelets or rivets passing through theflange 156a and the bottom wall 145a of the head channel.

The vertical flange 15612 extends upwardly and downwardly from thehorizontal flange 156a, closing the end of the head channel and alsodepending beneath the head channel. The cord-guide unit 156 is formedwith guideway passages for the passage of cords through the verticalflange 1515b and thence longitudinally through the boss 1560, so thatthe cords can extend outwardly and downwardly from the free end of theboss. In FIG;

11 these guideway passages are seen endwise, looking down'the length ofthe head channeltoward the vertical flange 156b, in FIG. 17 theseguideway passages are seen endwise, looking in the opposite-direction.Close to the bottom of the head channel there are two guideway passages156e and 156f. At a somewhat higher level there is a guideway passage156g. As these three guideway passages proceed toward the free end ofthe boss 1560, their bottom surfaces curve downwardly to provide smoothdownward-and-outward exits for the cords coming from the head channeland extending through the'guideway passages.

Below the head channel the cord-guide fitting 156 is provided with ahorizontal bore l56h which leads from the free end of the boss 156C andextending longitudinally through the boss and thencethrough the verticalflange 156b. The bore 156h is counterbored at 156i, the counterboreextending through the vertical flange l56b and for a distance into theboss 156C.

The tilt cord is designated as a whole by the reference character 168which is in the lower-right corner of FIG.

10. The tilt cord 168 is a composite, which is composed of two tilt-cordelements that are connected together end-to-end. One of the tilt-cordelements is shown separately in FIG. 13 and is designated as a whole by168'. The other tilt-cord cord element is the loop that is hanging downat the right edge of FIG. and is desig-.

nated as a whole by 168". The tilt-cord element 168' is formed from asingle length of cord that is doubled and looped as shown in FIG. 13.The two ends of the single length of cord are fastened together in anysuitable manner as by being passed through a tubular sheet-metalfastener 87 that is crimped about the overlapped end-portions of thecord. When installed in the head 144 the tilt-cord element 16 8 makes al80 turn around, pulley 169 and has front and rear horizontal runs inthe head channel, the front horizontal run being designated by 168!) andthe rear horizontal run being designated by 1680. By virtue of thetilt-cord element 168' the tilt cord 168, in the front and rearhorizontal runs 168]? and 1686, is a double cord with side-by-sidecord-branches.

The eyelcts 71 and 72, at which the upper ends of the ladder sidcpicces42a and 421) are connected to the 10 side-by-side cord-branches of thedouble cord in the front and rear horizontal runs 168!) and 1680. Theeyelets 71 and 72 are all alike, and they are affixed in the same mannerby the eyelet-setting tool that is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 15,which corresponds with FIG. 4, shows one of the eyelets 72 in positionon the lower eyelet-receiving die 75. The two side-by-side cordbranchesof the rear horizontal run 168C are shown in 7 place in the twodiametrically disposed slots 76a in the sleeve 76. Between the two slots76a each of the two branches of the rear horizontal run 1680 is'shownpassing in a semicircle around the tubular portion of the eyelet 72, onecord branch passing around one-half of the tubular portion of the eyeletand the other cord branch passing around the other half of the tubularportion of the eyelet. When the eyelet is set by bringing down the upperdie 77 (FIG. 5), substantially the entire periphery of the eyelet iscrimped about the two sideby-side cord-branches, one-half of theperiphery being crimped about one of the s ide-by-side cordbranches andthe other half of the periphery being crimped about the other of theside-by-side cord-branches;,see FIG. 14

which shows a crimped eyelet and the two cordbranches, all in section onthe line 1414 of FIG. 13.

The cord-guide pulley-169 is slidably mounted on the head channel 145 sothat the pulley can be shifted between the full-line position andphantom-line position shown in FIG. 9. This affords slackening andtightening of the tilt cord for a purpose that will be explained. Thepulley 169 is captive on a vertically-disposed headedshaft 169a that ismovable along the longitudinal slot 145f in the bottom of the headchannel. Suitable clamping means, which is operable from beneath thehead channel, serves to clamp the shaft 169a in adjusted position alongthe slot l45f. The clamping means shown includes a clamping screw 16912which passes through the slot 145fand is threaded into an axial bore inthe shaft 169a. Upon being tightened, the screw 16912 pulls the lowerend of' the shaft 169a tightly against the bottom of the head channel,thereby clamping the shaft in adjusted position along the slot l45f. Thescrew 169k may be kept centered with respect to the width of the slot145]" by means of an interposed washer 1696 that is provided with arectangular protuberance 169d which fits into the slot 145f and has aheight somewhat less than the thicknessof the bottom wall 145a of thehead channel.

From the pulley 169 the front arid rear horizontal runs l68b and 1 68cof the tilt cord extend lengthwise of the cylindrical boss 156C for ashort distance as horizontal runs of the tilt cord, are crimped aboutthe shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and 17. The rear horizontal run 168C of thetiltcord extends similarly to the right-hand end of the head, where itextends through the guideway passage 156a (FIGS. 11 and l7)'and hangsdown from the free end of the cylindrical boss 156C for a short distanceas shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and 17. The two ends of the tilt-cord element168" are connected to the two ends of the double tilt-cord element 168'in any suitable manner, e.g., in the manner shown in FIG. 17 with theaid of tubular sheet-metal fasteners 87.

The Venetian blind of FIGS. 9 and 10 has lift-cord means including twolift cords 178 which are shiftable lengthwise of themselves to raise andlower the slats. The two lift cords 178 extend from the bottom bar ofthe ladder-and-slat assembly (not shown), upwardly through the slats(not shown), through the eyelets 49 into the head 144, over one or bothof the rollers 51, through the guideway passage 156g (FIGS. 11 and 17)in the boss 1560, and then hang down from the boss. The two lift cords178 are provided by a continuous length of cord having two branchesextending from a bight 178a (see also FIGS. 12 and 16). With theladderand-slat assembly of the blind fully lowered before the blind isinstalled, the two lift cords 178 are pulled slack-free and the bight178a formed at the point along the length of cord which providesequalization of the two lift cords 178 for horizontal suspension of thebottom bar of the ladder-and-slat assembly.

A pulley 88 (FIGS. 10, 12 and 17) is rotatably mounted in a frame 88awhich is vertically movable beneath the boss 156C. Either before orafter the bight 178a is formed, the two lift cords 178 are passed underthe pulley 88 as shown; then the bight 178a is passed backwardly throughthe boss 1566, being inserted through bore 1561i (FIGS. 17 and 12) 'andthence through the counterbore 156i. A two-legged equalizer 89 is passedbetween the two lift cords 178 and placed astride of the bight 1780 asindicated in FIG. 16. Then the two lift cords 178 are pulled through thebore 156k, whereupon the equalizer 89'nests in the counterbore 156i andthe bight-adjacent ends of the two lift cords 178a are anchored to thehead-bar-attached fitting 156. A cord 178b, which is part of thelift-cord means,- is attached as shown to the pulley frame 88a and extends downwardly therefrom. ,When the cord 178b is pulled downwardly thebottom bar of the blind is raised in 2:l ratio, i.e., the bottom bar israised two inches for each inch that the cord 17812 is pulled down.

The second Venetian blind that is disclosed is illustrated in FIGS. 9and 10, which figures omit the means for manipulating the tilt andlift-cords. The tilt and lift cords are manipulated by a cord-operatingunit which is located at a distance from the horizontal runs of thesecords in the head l44'of the blind. Such cordoperating unit is attachedto framing of the window with which the Venetian blind is combined; seeFIG. 17, where the cord-operating unit, designated as a whole by 90, isattached to such framing. The cordoperating unit 90 is also dealt within FIGS. 18 and 19.

The two Venetian blinds herein disclosed are adapted to be combined withexisting single and double-glazed windows including single anddoubleglazed windows in which fabricated metal framing'lines the openingin the building wall, with or without framing interposed between theglazings and the framing which lines the opening in the. building wall.Many of the fabricated metal framings are made of aluminum; and manyhave a lintel and have jamb-channels which extend vertically downwardlyfrom the ends of the lintel, the bottom walls of the two jamb-channelsbeing toward each other. The second Venetian blind herein disclosed isparticularly well-suited for combining with such a window; the framingof the window need not be disturbed except for making in it two roundholes of reasonable size for receiving parts of the blind, plus threesmall holes for receivingattaching screws.

In FIG. 17 the blind of FIGS. 9 and 10 is combined with a window havingfabricated metal framing which provides a horizontal lintel at 130 andvertical jambchannels 131 (one shown) which extend downwardly from theends of the lintel. The head channel 145 of the head 144 (FIGS. 9 and10) extends along the length of the lintel 130, being closely adjacentto the bottom face of the lintel. The ladder-and-slat assembly (notshown) hangs beneath the head channel 145. The bottom wall 131a of eachjamb channel 131 is toward the edge of the space which receives theladder-and-slat assembly,

while the front and rear side walls 131]) and 1310 of each jamb channelare directed away from the edge of the space which receives theladder-and-slat assembly. Close to the upper end of the jamb channel 131shown in FIG. 17 a hole 131d has been provided through the bottom wall131a of the channel formation of the jamb channel. The boss 156C whichprojects from one end of the head channel 145, the right-hand end inFIGS. 9 and 10, makes a sliding fit with the hole 131d and is telescopedtherein, whereby the end of the head channel is supported. The oppositeend of the head channel 145 is supported by an attaching screw (notshown) which is inserted through the hole 145d (FIG. 9, lefthand end)and threaded into the lintel 130.

The cord-operating unit is considered to be part of the Venetian blind;it has a tilt-cord spool-member 91 which is individual to the tilt cord168, and a liftcord spool-member 92 which is individual to the liftcords 178. These two spool members, which are eylindrical, are rotatablewith a cylindrical shaft 93; however, there is slippage between theshaft 93 and the tiltcord spool-member 91 while the ladder-and-slatassembly of the blind is being raised or lowered. The tilt-cordspool-member 91 is a separate member which is mounted on the shaft 93.The lift-cord spool-member 92 is part of the shaft itself. Spool member91 spans the space between the discs 94 and 95, which have confrontingplanar faces. Spool member 92 spans the space between discs 95 and 96,which also. have confronting planar faces. The discs 94, 95 and 96rotate with the shaft 93, each disc being in non-slip relation to theshaft.

The tilt cord 168 includes the double-cord portion 168' (see also FIG.13) and the single-cord portion 168" (see also FIG. 10, lower right-handcorner). The double-cord portion 168 is connected to the tilt-cordspool-member 91 by the length of cord which constitutes the single-cordportion 168. The spool member 91 has parallel chordal slots 91a and 91bwith which the cord 168" makes a tight fit (FIGS. 18 and 19). Before thetilt-cord spool-member 91 is mounted on the shaft 93, an intermediateportion of the cord 168" is connected to the spool-member 91 by forcingshort lengths of the cord 168" sidewise into the slots and placing theintervening length of cord against the cylindrical surface of the spoolmember 91 (FIGS. 18 and 19). From the upper end of slot 91a as the slotstands in FIG. 19 the cord 1687 is wound one or two convolutions aboutthe spool member 91, proceeding clockwise indicated by the arrow 91c.From the upper end of the slot 91b the cord is wound one or twoconvolutions about spool member 91, proceeding counterclockwise asindicated by the arrow 91d. When the slats of the blind are untilted thetilt-cord spool-member 91 is in the rotative position of FIG. 17 andapproximately 13. equal amounts of cord 168" are wound, in oppositedirections, on the tilt-cord spool-member 91.

The disc 94, which functions in conjunction with the disc 95, is afriction drive which is interposed between the tilt-cord spool-member 91and the shaft 93 and its crank 110. Upon rotation of the crank 110 ineither direction the tilt-cord spool-member 91 is driven through thefriction drive (disc 94) and the tilt cord 168 is shifted longitudinallyof itself and tiltsthe slats of the blind. The slats having been fullytilted in either direction, the movement of the tilt cord 168 and thetilt-cord spool-member 91 are brought to a halt. Any continued movementof the tilt cord 168 will be brief; it will raise the ladder-and-slatassembly until the top slat 41, now fully tilted though shown untiltedin FIG. 2, will strike the bottom of the head channel 145 (FIG. andprevent any further movement of the tilt cord 168 and tiltcordspool-member 91.

In addition to serving as a friction drive, the disc 94 serves as abrake'also. The slats having been tilted to any desired position and thecrank 110 released,.fortuito'us rotation of the crank 110 and shaft 93is obviated bya brake disc 97. The disc 94 now serves as a brake; itprevents fortuitousrotation' of the tilt-cord spoolmember 91 on theshaft 93, thereby preventing fortu itous tilting movement of the slats.

To raise or lower the slats of the blind, the cord 178b is reeled in orpayed out by the lift-cord spool-member 92 which is part of the shaft93. Full tilting of the slats is effected by a relatively small-amountof rotative movement of the tilt-cord spool-member-9l, and thereupon therotation of the spool member 91 is automatically brought to a halt ashas been explained. During such full tilting of the slats the lift-cordspool-member 92 effects only insignificant raising or lowering of theslats as a result of the rotation of the crank 110 and shaft 93 to tiltthe slats. Sufficient continued rotation ofthe crank ll0 and shaft 93effects the reeling in or paying out of the cord l78b which is neededfor whatever raising or lowering of the slats is desired. The crank 110is a common operator for rotating the tiltcord and liftcordspool-members 9l and 92, and the crank is in continuous torque-impartingrelationship to both of these spool members The tilt and lift cordspool-members are in nonslip relationship to the tilt and lift cords.

For additional disclosure pertaining to the cordoperating unit'90 and/orrelating'thereto see the parent application Ser. No. 6,395, now US. Pat.No. 3,703,920, and particularly FIGS. 20, 21,22, 26 and 27 thereof anddescription in connection with those figures.

disclosed in Lorentzen et al. US. Pat. No. 3,485,286 dated Dec. 23,1969. The head 344 that is shown may be considered as consisting of theupwardly-opening U-shaped sheet-steel channel. 345 and the theretoattached units which guide the tilt cord, guide the lift cords, andguide the head-entering portions of the sidepieces of the ladders 342.

Above the ladders 342 the head 344 has two cordguide units that are eachdesignated as a whole by 346. The cord-guide units 346 are duplicates,though the left-hand unit 346 is integrally connected to a pulley unit346. Each cord-guide unit 346 has a U-shaped sheet-steel body 347 thatis nested as shown within the head channel 345, the bottom 347a of thecord-guideunit body being against the bottom 345a of the head channeland the sides 3471; and 3470 of the cord-guideunit body being againstthe sides 345k and 345C of the head channel. The bottom 347a of the bodyof each guide unit 346 is attached to the bottom345a of the head channelby three conventional metal eyelets 348, 349 and 350. These eyelets,which may be considered as part of the cord-guide unit 346, pass throughthe bottom 347a of the cord-guide-unit body and also through the bottom345a of the head channel. The eyelets 348, 349 and 350 also do cordguiding as will be explained.

A rivet-like shaft 351 extends between the sides 347b FIGS..2028 hereofdeal with the third Venetian blind that is disclosed. Theladder-and-slat assembly of the blind is designated as a whole by 340and is positioned beneath a horizontally-extending support or head thatis designated as a whole-by 344. The ladderand-slat' assembly includes aseries of upwardlycrowned sheet-metal slats 341 and a bottom bar 341athat are supported and articulated together in known manner by two ormore string ladders, each of which is designated as a whole by 342. Theladder-and-slat assembly 340 may conform to the ladder-and-slat assemblythat is disclosed in Lorentzen et al. US. Pat. 3,425,479 dated Feb. 4,1969, with the bottom bar 341a and its fittings and arrangementconforming to the bottom bar and its fittings and arrangement that areand 3476 of the U-shaped cord-guide-unit body 347. The shaft 351 has asmooth cylindrical surface for cord guiding; and the shaft consitutes acord guide, aswill be explained. Each end of the rivet-like shaft 351 issuitably preventedfrom retractive movement through the side 347b or347C, for example, by upset or enlarged ends that are nested inoutwardly-facing annular grooves that are impressed at 347d from themetal of the sides 347b'and 347C. The shaft 351 may make a tight fitwiththe sides 347b and 3470, and thereby be nonrotatable. Alternatively, theshaft 351 may make a loose fit with the sides 34712 and 347e, andthereby be rotatable. I

At its right-hand end in FIGS. 20 and 21 the head 344 has a cord-guideunit which is designated as a whole by 356. The cord-guide unit 356 hasa U-shaped sheetsteel body 357 that is nested as shown within the headchannel 345, the bottom 357a. of the cord-guide-unit body being againstthe bottom 345a of the headchannel and the sides 35712 and 357C of thecord-guide-unit body 357 being against the sides345b and 3450 of thehead channel. The bottom 357a-0f the body of the cord-guide unit 357 isattached tot he bottom 345a of the head channel by two conventionalmetal eyelets 358 and 359. These eyelets, which may be considered aspart of the cord-guide unit 356, pass through the bottom 357a of thecord-guide-unit body and also through the bottom 3450 of the headchannel. At its right-hand end in FIGS 20 and 21 the bottom wall 357a ofthe cord-guide-unit'body is formed into a convex scmicy- Iindricalcord-guiding'surface SC that spans the space between the front and rearwalls of the .cord-guide-unit body 357. Through the bottom 357a of thecord-guide unit 356 there is a screw hole 345s which registers with alike hole (not shown) through the bottom wall 345a of the head channel;a screw (not shown) is inserted upwardly through these registering holesto attach the right-hand end of the head 344 to the soffit ofa windowframe or window opening.

Longitudinally of the head channel345, the front and rear walls 357b'and3570 of the cord-guide-unit body 357 extend well beyond the right-handend of the head channel 345 (FIGS. and 21 Spanning the space between thefront and rear walls 357!) and 357C, and positioned beyond theright-hand end of the head channel 345, there is a rivet-like shaft 361which constitutes a cord guide and which has a smooth cylindricalsurface for guiding the cord. The shaft36l is the same and is mountedthe same as the shaft 351 of each cordguiding unit 346. The descriptionand comments in connection with shaft 351 apply in connection with shaft361.

The pulley unit 346' is integral with the cord-guide unit 346 and, inFIGS. 20 and 21, extends to the left therefrom. The body 347 of thepulley unit is a sheetsteel channel that is nested in the head channel345 and is a continuation of the channel 347 which constitutes the bodyof the adjacent cord-guide unit 346. A stub shaft 364 is affixed to andprojects vertically upward from the bottom wall of the pulley unit 346'.Captive on the shaft 364 there is a freely rotatable plastic or metalpulley 369. The pulley 369 has a peripherial groove 369a which receivesthetilt cord of the blind. Through the bottom of the pulley unit thereis a screw hole 345d which registers with a like hole (not shown)through the bottom wall 345a of the head channel; a screw (not shown) isinserted upwardly through these registering holes to attach theleft-hand end of the head 344 to the soffit or lintel of a windowopening.

The tilt cord of the third Venetian blind is designated as a whole bythe reference character 368, which is in the lower-right corner of FIG.21. The tilt cord 368 is a composite that is composed of aneyelet-carrying portion 368' (shown separately in FIG. 23)and connectingportions and connectors by which the eyelet-carrying portion isconnected to a cord-operating unit that is located at a distance fromthe eyelet-carrying portion.

The tilt cord 368, and-more especially the eyeletcarrying portion 368'thereof, has front and rear horizontal runs 368)) and 3686' within thehead channel 345. Between the front and rear horizontal runs 368! and368(' the tilt cord is guided through a 180 turn by the pulley 369,whereby the front and rear horizontal nated by 372 and beingcorrespondingly positioned and spaced as is perhaps best seen in FIG.23. The manner of connecting the eyelets 371 and 372 to the tilt-cordruns 368 and 3680 will be explained. The connecting portions andconnectors of the tilt cord will be explained also.

Each ladder 342 has cordlike sidepieces, the front sidepiece beingdesignated 342a (FIGS. 20 and 21) and the rear sidepiece beingdesignated 3421) (FIG. 20). The slats 341 rest on the crosspieces orrungs of the ladders 342, as is well known and has been mentioned inconnection with FIG. 3. Each front sidepiece 342a extends upwardly intothe head 344 through an eyelet 350 and is guided by the eyelet through aturn of approximately 90, after which it extends generally horizontallyto the nearby eyelet 371. Similarly the rear sidepiece 342!) of theladder extends upwardly into the head 344 through an eyelet 348 and isguided by the eyelet through a-turn of approximately 90, after which itextends generally horizontally to the neearby eyelet 372. The upper endof each ladder sidepiece is provided with a sheet-metal barb 374 whichis the same as the barb 74 in FIGS. 1, 2, 9, and 10. The barbs 374'areinserted through the eyelets 371 and 372 -conneeting the front and rearsidepieces of the ladders 342 to the front and rear horizontal runs ofthe tilt cord 368, the same as the corresponding connections in FIGS. 1,2, 9 and 10.

The Venetian blind of FIGS. 20 and 21 has lift-cord means which includestwo lift cords that are shiftable lengthwise of themselves to raise andlower the slats. The two lift cords 378 extend from the bottom bar 341a,upwardly through conventional rout holes (not shown) in the slats 341,into the head 344 through eyelets 349 that guide the lift cords through90 turns, after which the lift cords extend horizontally to therighthand end of the head (FIG. 20), over the cord-guiding surface SCand thence downwardly under the pulley 388, and back upwardly to a bight378a, (FIG. 21) which embraces the transverse shaft 361. The two liftcords 378 are provided by a continuous length of cord having twobranches which unite at the bight 378a. The two branches whichconstitute the two lift cords 378 are installed by threading themthrough the blind from the bight 378a.

l The pulley 388 (FIG. 21) is rotatably mounted in a U-shapedsheet-metal frame 388a which is vertically movable beneath the shaft361. A cord 378b, which is part of the lift-cord means, is attached asshown to the pulley frame 388a and extends downwardly therefrom. Whenthe cord 378b is pulled downwardly the blind is raised in 2:1 ratio,i.e., the bottom bar 3410 is raised two inches for each inch that thecord 37812 is pulled downwardly.

The tilt and lift cords are manipulated by the cordoperating unit 390(FIGS. 20 and 21) which corresponds to the cord-operating unit 90 inFIG. 17 and which is located at a distance from the horizontalruns ofthese cords in the head 344 of the blind. In FIGS. 20 and 21 thecord-operating unit 390 and elements and structure associated therewithare shown in exploded relation to a vertical plane adjacent to theright-hand end of the head 344, and dotted lines are used to indicatediagrammatically the relevant continuations.

The blindof FIGS. 20 and 21 is adapted to be combined with a window bysecuring the head 344 to the soffit or lintel,'the expanse of theladder-and-slat assembly 340 confronting the glazing in the case of asingle-glazed window, and the ladder-and-slat assembly being between theglazings in the case of a doubleglazed window. In FIGS. 20 and 21 theframing and glazings of a double-glazed window with which the blind maybe combined are indicated diagrammatically in dot-dash lines, theframing being fabricated metal framing. The lintel of the framing is achannel 381 having its open side facing downwardly, and the jambs of theframing are channels 382 and 383 having their open sides facing towardone another. The head 344 of The blind of FIGS. 20 and 21 is adapted tobe combined with'a window having the fabricated metal framing that isshown in FIG. 17, being substituted for the blind that is shown in FIG.17. The head 344 is attached by screws, as hereinbefore mentioned, thelintel 130 of FIG. 17. Preparatory to attaching the head 344 to thelintel 130, the cord guide 361 and at least a portion of the cord guideSC (FIGS. 20 and 21) are inserted through a suitable opening that hasbeen provided through the bottom wall 131a (FIG. 17) of the channelformation of the jamb channel adjacent to the top of the jamb, theopening corresponding to the hole 131d I in FIG. 17. The cord-operatingunit 390 (FIGS. 20 and 21) is substituted for the cord-operating unit 90of FIG. 17, the unit 390 being attached to the front wall 131b of thejamb channel by screws that correspond with screws 101 and 102in FIG. 17and one of which is indicated at 301 in FIG. 20.

The Venetian blind of FIGS. 20 and 21 hereof may also be combined withwindows having other specific metal-framings, e.g., the fabricated metalframings that in parent application Ser. No.6,395, now US. Pat. No.

3,703,920, are disclosed in connection with FIGS.

2831, 33 and 35 thereof the blind of FIGS. 20 and 2] hereof beingsubstituted for the blinds there dis closed. l l

The cord-operating unit 390 is considered to be part of the Venetianblind. The unit 390 has a tilt-cord spool-member 391 which is individualto the tilt cord 368, and it has a lift-cord spool-member 392 which isindividual to the lift cords 378. These two spool members, which arecylindrical, are portions of a one-piece metal shaft 393. There isslippage .between thetilt-cord spool-member 391 and the tiltcord 368while the ladder-and-slat assembly of the blind is being raised orlowered, as will be explained. Integral checks 394, 395 and 396, havingcircular inner and outer peripheries, complete the two spools.

The spools shaft 393 is journalled in a bearing block 400 that has acylindrical boss 400a which projects through a circular hole that hasbeen provided previously in the front wall of the jamb channel 383.Screws (one indicated at 301) attach the bearing block 400 to the jampchannel. The disc-like check 396, which is integral with the shaft 393',has a flat face which. confronts the inner end-face of "the bearingblock. The shaft 393 extends through and beyond the bearing block 400.In front of the bearing block the shaft 393 carries a resilientfriction-washer 398, a crank 410, and nuts 303, 304, 305 and 306 all ofwhich are threaded onto the shaft.

For reasons which will be explained, one or two quick connectors 321 or322 are included in the tilt cord 368. The connectors 321 and 322 arealternatives,

and one of each is shown in FIG. 21 merely by way of illustrating eachone. Each of these connectors is a shallow channel that is stamped inone piece from sheet steel, the channel formation of the two connectorsbeing the same (see also FIGS. 21A and 21B). The connectors 321 and 322are each symmetrical about a central cross-sectional plane. Adjacent toeach end of each of the connectors 321 and 322 there is a hole h thediameter of which is only a little larger than the diameter of the cordthat is to be connected. At its center point the connector 321 isdrilled and tapped to receive a round-head machine-screw 321a. The headof the screw is adapted to enter the channel formation of the connector,with the periphery of the head extending close to the side walls of thechannel as shown in FIG. 21. The connector 322 is provided with upperand lower pairs of edge notches, -upper and lower referring to thevarious dispositions as they are seen in the drawing. One notch of eachpair is designated by n and the other by n. As the notchesare traversedfrom their open ends to their closed ends they incline toward theircompanion holes h.-The connectors 321 and 322 'suitably connect theconfronting upper and lower cords, variations in the'speciflc manner ofconnection being feasible.

Referring to the connector 321 as shown, the upper and lower c'ords arethreaded from the back through the upper and lower holes h. The uppercord end is' then knotted at k to prevent withdrawal. The lower cord isdrawn through the-lower hole It as desired by way of reducing theeffective length of cord, and then the lower cord is looped around thestem of screw 321a. The screw is then tightened down to secure the lowercord by clamping the cord within the channel formation of the connector321.

Referring to the connector 322 as shown in-FIG. 21, the upper and lowercords are threaded from the front through the upper and lower holes 11.The upper cord end is then knotted at k to prevent withdrawal. The

- lower cord is drawn through the lower hole It as desired The nut 303adjustably clamps the axially-resilient washer 39.8 against the flatouter face of the bearing block.400. The nut 304 is a lock nut for thenut 303. The crank 410 includes a radial arm 410a which is piercedadjacent to its inner end by the shaft 393. The arm 410a is essentiallya flat strip of flexible but relatively hard nylon. The nut 305adjustably clamps the nylon arm 410a against the nut 304. The nut 306 isa lock nut for the nut 305. Those facesof the nuts 304 and 305 whichconfront the crank arm 410a are made flat and smooth or, alternatively,metal washers that are flat and smooth are interposed between thosefaces and the crank arm 410a. The crank-arm hole 4l0b which receives theshaft 393 is preferably lined with a metal bushing (not shown) that hasan axial length which is somewhat less than the thickness of the crankarm.

by way of reducing the length of cordand then the lower cord is securedby being wound as follows: from the back of lower hole 11, around thelower end of the connector 322 at a point thatis to the left of hole 11,upwardly on the front of the connector to-the lower notch n, through thelower notch n adjacent to the closed end thereof, downwardly on the backof the connector and around the lower end of the connector at a pointthat is to the right of the hole h, and'upwardly on the front of theconnector and thence through the lower notch n adjacent to the closedend thereof. The notches n and n are of decreasing width as traversedfrom their open ends to their closed ends, the cord freely entering thenotches at their open ends but being grippingly held by the sides of thenotchestwhen the cord is forcedsidewise to a position adjacent to theclosed ends of the notches.

Sheet steel 0.050 inch thick has been used for con- ;nector 321, whichhas a tapped hole for screw 321a.

distance from the head. The connection of the lift cords 378 to thelift-cord spool-member 392 can be such as to leave a little slack in thelift cords when the bottom bar 341a rests on the window sill. The lowerend of the cord 378b (FIG. 21) is threaded through a diametrical hole392a at the inner end of the lift-cord spoolmember 392 and then thelower end of the cord is knotted at 378d to prevent withdrawal The knotis drawn into an appropriate counterbore at the end of hole 3920. Theupper end of the cord 3781) is fished upwardly and is suitably attachedto the pulley frame 388a, undue slack being eliminated and excess lengthof the cord 378b being cut off. Rotation of the crank- 410 winds thecord 378b on the lift-cord spool-member 392, taking up any slack andthen raising the blind.

The eyelet-carrying portion 368' of the tilt cord (see also FIG. 23) hasterminal eyelets E and E, each of which is lined with a smaller eyelet eto prevent possible cutting of cord that is tied to the eyelets E and E.In the particular arrangement shown in the drawing the tilt cord 368includes (a) the eyelet-carrying portion 368', (b) portions 368 dand368e which are tied to the eyelets E andE' and extend to theconnectors 321and 322, (c) the connectors 321 and 322, and (d) a portion368" which extends from the connectors 32] and 322 and which is wrappeda plurality of turns about the tiltcord spool-member 391. .In FIG. thecord portion 368" is shown as being wrapped approximately six turnsabout the tilt-cord spool-member 391. The tiltcord spool-member 391constitutes a friction drive to the tilt cord portion 368" and hence afriction drive to the entire tilt cord 368 to tilt the slats of theblind. Therefore the tilt cord 368 of the installed blind needs to betaut. V I

The tilt cord portions 368d and 368e are made of such length that theconnectors 321 and 322 will be in an accessible location when the head344 of the blind has been attached to the soffit or lintel of the windowframing. The mid portion. of the tilt cord portion 368" is wrapped thedesired number of turns about the tiltcord spool-member 391 and, inconnection with the installation of the cord-operating unit 390 in thejamb of turns around the tilt-cord spool-member 391, being thencontinued back up and into confronting relation to the cord portion368d. The confronting runs of the cord portions 368d and 368e are thendrawn toward each other to pull the entire tilt cord 368 taut, whereuponthe confronting run of cord portion 368e is secured to the lower part ofthe connector in the manner that has been explained.

The tilt-cord spool-member 391 with the tilt cord portion 368" wrappedaround it is a friction drive which is operatively interposed betweenthe tilt cord 368 and the shaft 393 and its crank 410. With the slats341 untilted, and upon rotation of the crank 410 in either direction,this friction drive shifts the tilt cord 368 longitudinally of itselfand tilts the slats 341 by pulling up the ladder side-pieces 342a or3421) that are at one face of the blind and paying out the laddersidepieces 3421; or 342a that are at the other face of the blind. The

slats having been fully tilted in either direction, movement of the tiltcord 368 will be brought to a halt. Any continued movement of the 'tiltcord 368 will be brief; it will raise the ladder-and-slat assembly 340until the top slat 341, now fully tilted though shown untilted in FIG.21, will strike the bottom 3450 of the head channel and prevent furthermovement of the tilt cord 368.

I Slippage between the tilt-cord spool-member 391 and channel, the twobranches of the tilt cord portion 368" are fished upwardly forattachment to the connectors 321 and 322. The branch of cord portion368" which confronts the cord portion 368d is secured to the connector321 in the manner that has been explained. Then the cord portion 3682and the confronting branch of cord portion 368- are drawn toward eachother to pull the tilt cord 368 taut, whereupon the confronting branchof the cord portion 368" is secured to the connector 322 in the mannerthat has been explained. It will be seen that the attachment of thebranches of tilt cord portion 368" to the connectors 321 and 322 are ofsuch characters that the connectors afford quick release of theconfronting cord portions-for readjustment and quick reconnection of theconfronting cord portions in readjusted relation.

With some installations there is sufficient accessibility to make itfeasible to use but a single quick connector in the tilt cord 368. Insuch case the cord portion 368" is omitted. The depending end of tiltcord portion 368d is attached to the top of a connector, a connector perconnector 322 being presently preferred over a connector per connector321 regardless of whether one or two connectors is being used. The tiltcord portion 368e is continued to and wrapped the desired number theconvolutions of tilt cord portion 368" will permit continued rotation ofthe crank 410 to raise (or lower) the blind if that be desired.

The slats 341 having been tilted to any desired extent or left untilted,and the crank 410 released, fortuitous rotation of the crank 410 andshaft 393 is obviated by a shaft brake which will be explained. With theshaft 393 held against rotation by such brake friction drive provided bythe'tilt-cord spool-member 391 now serves as a slat-tilting brake; thefriction drive prevents fortuitous longitudinal movement of the' tiltcord 368, thereby preventing fortuitous tilting movement of the slats341.

To raise or lower the blind the cord 378b is reeled in or payed out bythe lift-cord spool-member 392 which is part of the shaft 393. Fulltilting of the slats 341 is effected by a relatively small amount ofrotative movement of the tilt-cord spool-member 39l, and thereuponfurther tilting movement of the tilt cord 368 is brought to a halt ashas been explained. During such full tilting of the slats 341 thelift-cord spool-member 392 effects only insignificant raising orlowering of the slats as a result of rotation of the crank 410 and shaft393 to tilt the slats. Sufficient continued rotation of the crank 410and shaft 393 effects the reeling in or paying out of cord 378b which isneeded for whatever raising or lowering of the blind that is desired.The crank 410 is a common operator for rotating the tilt-cord andlift-cord spool-members 391 and 392, and the crank is in continuoustorque-imparting relation to both of these spool members. The tilt andlift cord spool-members 391 and 392 are in continuous cord-operatingrelation to the tilt and lift cords and afford movement of these cordsso long as they are free to move.

As the tilt cord portion 368 is driven by the spool member 391 and endconvolution of the cord portion 378" may move against the check 394 and395. Moving against the cheek 394 or substantially against it, the endconvolution drops into peripherial groove 391a (FIGS. 20 and 22); thisinhibits the next-to-the-end convolution from moving under the endconvolution,

which could start the convolutions pilling up against the cheek 394.Similarly if the convolution at the opposite end moves substantiallyagainst the cheek 395; that end convolution then drops into theperipherial groove 39lb (FIG. This condition is illustrated in FIG. 22,in which the peripherial groove 391b (seen in FIG. 22) is hidden by theconvolution that is adjacent to cheek 395.

it can be expected to move closely adjacent to cheek 395 at times andclosely adjacent to cheek 396 at other times. These cheeks 'are providedwith hemispherical projections 395b and 396k which, when the cord 378bmoves closely adjacent to the cheeks, strikes the cord and pushes itaway to thereby inhibit the cord from pil- As the cord 37812 is reeledin the spool member 392 disc or washer 397. A flat-faced clamping nut303 is threaded onto the shaft 393 from the outer end of the shaft andconfronts the flat outer face of the bearing block 400, being separatedtherefrom by a friction disc or washer 398. The friction discs orwashers 397 and 398 are brake means which impose a drag upon therotation of the crank 410 and shaft 393. When the crank is releasedafter partially or fully raising the blind, the drag imposed by thefriction discs 397 and 398 prevents reverse rotation of the shaft 393andcrank 410 and thereby obviates fortuitous lowering ofthe' blind,i.e., the ladder-and-slat assembly thereof, due to its weight. v

The friction discs or washers 397 and 398 are each of suitable type andmade of suitable materiaLAt least one of these washers. for example thewasher 398, is of a type which affords resilient yielding in an axialdirection to a marked extent when the washer is axially loaded. Bysufficiently tightening the clamping nut 303 and locking it with the nut304 thediscs or washers397 and 398 are'axially loaded and held loadedtothe extent needed to cause the drag which they exert to be sufficient toobviate fortuitous lowering of the blind, even when the blind is fullyraised.

The nut 305 is tightened against the outer face of nylon crank arm 410aand locked by nut 306. Sufficient clamping pressure is applied by nut305 to obviate slippage between the crank arm 410a and the shaft 393while the blind is being fully raised. However, this clamping pressureis set low' enough to enable the crank to slip in the event thatrotation of the crank 410 be forcibly continued after the blind'has beenfully raised. Thus the clamped inner end of the crank arm 410aconstitutes a friction drive which protects the lift cords of the blindagainst breakage in the event of forcible continued rotation of thecrank after the blind has been fully raised. 7 v

As cord for the tilt cords and the lift-cord means of the blinds hereindisclosed, use may be made of suitable non-metallic commerical cord ofsmall diameter and high breaking strength. In this category braided cordsuch as is sometimes used for fishing lines, having a diameter ofapproximately 0.050 inch and which is scarcelystretchable, is presentlypreferred. However, the slats of the blind may fail to maintainparallelism if the tilt cord undergoes slight stretch in theeyeletcarrying portion thereof, to which the ladders are attached; andobjectionable stretch in the eyelet-carrying portion of the tilt cord islikely to occur in the case of a blind which is tall and heavy'and/orhas long slats re- 'quiring more than two ladders, for example four ormore ladders. With such a blind it is also likely that there will beheavy upward pull at times on the lift cord spool. To better support theshaft 393 in case of such heavy upward pull an end bearing 393a (FIG.20) may be provided for the shaft. The bearing 393a is mounted in anysuitable manner on the rear wall of the jamb channel 383.

FIG. 24 shows a one-piece sheet-metal stamping F which may be of copperor brass, that is used to provide the eyelets 371, 372, E and E (FIG.23). The stamping F has a loop formation F, which constitutes theeyelet. A sheet-metal portion F extends outwardly as shown from theeyelet; and two spaced fingers F and F project as shown from thesheet-metal portion F The eyelet F is affixed to the portion 368' of thetilt cord 368 by bending the fingers F and F into holding engagementwith the cord. It is presently preferred to so bend the fingers F and Fthat the ends of the fingers will be contiguous to the cord and inholding engagement therewith. This may be done with a punch and diearrangement such shown in FIGS. 25-27.

. For eyelets 371 and 372 of the eyelet-carrying tilt cord portion 368,the cord is inserted sidewise into the die and the longitudinal slot32611 of the vertical pin 326 which is tapered as shown. The point onthe cord at which the center of the eyelet 371 or 372 is to be locatedis placed at the center or axis of the pm 326'. A stamping F is impaledon the pin 326 (see particularly FIG. 27) with the free ends of thefingers F and F resting against the curved faces 32'5a'and 325b of thedie 325. The fingers F and F are astride of the cord. When the punch'327descends it forces the stamping F downwardly and the die faces 325a and3251) curl the fingers F and F toward each other, forcing the ends ofthe fingers into firm holding engagement with the cord 368 as is bestseen in FIG. 26. Stampings F are likewise used to provide the terminaleyelets of cord' portion 368 but, since the terminal eyelets E and E"are somewhat beyond theends of the cord portion 368, the cord will notextend to the pin 326 while the terminal eyelets arebeing affixed to thecord.

Each blind herein disclosed is thin, and iswell suited for combinationwith a double-glazed window. The slats maybe 1 inch wide and the headchannel may be 1 inch wide and three-eighths 2 inch high. Suitable knownmaterials are used throughout. Rolled aluminum slats are presentlypreferred for the ladder-andslat assembly of the blind. Rolled sheetsteel is presently preferred for-the head channel. Stamped sheet steelis presently preferred for the bodies of the cordguide units that areaffixed to the head channel.

The eyelet-carrying portion 368' of the tilt cord is preferably offinely stranded stainless steel as stated in the second paragraph of'theSummary of the Invention but may be partly non-metallic, having corestrands or other strands which are of'metal.

I claim:

l. A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneatha support and having means for tilting the slats, the slat-tilting meansincluding a tilt cord which is shiftable longitudinally of itself, andthe tilt cord having a horizontal run adjacent to the support and towhich a side-piece of each ladder is connected wherein the improvementcomprises:

eyelets along the horizontal run of the tilt cord,

peripheral portions of the eyelets being crimped about the tilt cord andthereby affixing the eyelets thereto,

and barbs on the upper ends of such of the ladder sidepieces as areconnected to the tilt cord,

the barb-equipped ends of the ladder sidepieces being inserted throughthe eyelets and the barbs preventing fortuitous disengagement of theladder sidepieces from the eyelets.

2. A Venetian blind as in claim 1 in which the tilt cord has front andrear horizontal runs that are movable in opposite directions wherein theimprovement additionally comprises:

eyelets along the front and rear horizontal runs of the tilt cord,

peripheral portions of the eyelets being crimped about the tilt cord andthereby affixing the eyelets thereto, i

and barbs on the upper ends of the front and rear sidepieces of theladders,

the barbs on the front sidepieces of the ladders being inserted throughthe eyelets on the front horizontal run of the tilt cord,

the barbs on the rear sidepieces of the ladders being inserted throughthe eyelets on the rear horizontal run of the tilt cord,

and the barbs preventing fortuitous disengagement of the laddersidepieces from the eyelets.

3. A Venetian blind as in claim 2 wherein the improvement additionallycomprises:

the tilt cord, for at least a portion of its length, is a double cordand side-by-side cord-branches in at least the eyelet-affixed portionsof the horizontal runs,

and the eyelets are crimped about both of the sideby-side cord-branches.

4. A Venetian blind as in claim 3 wherein the improvement additionallycomprises:

the eyelets having approximately half of their peripheries crimped aboutone of the cord-branches and approximately half of their peripheriescrimped about the other of the cord-branches.

5. A Venetian blind as in claim 3 in which the improvement additionallycomprises:

cord-operating means which is operatively connected to the double-cordportion of the tilt cord to shift the double-cord portion longitudinallyof itself for tilting the slats of the blind.

6. A Venetian blind as in claim 3 wherein the improvement additionallycomprises:

cord-operating means which is located at a distance from the horizontalruns of the tilt cord,

and a length of cord, which constitutes part of the tilt cord, connectsthe double-cord portion of the tilt cord to the cord-operating means.

7. A Venetian blind as in claim 6 in which there is liftcord means forthe slats wherein the improvement additionally comprises:

the cord-operating means is operative for pulling in and paying out thelift-cord means,

and the lift-cord means is operatively connected to the cord-operatingmeans whereby the slats of the blind may be raised and lowered inresponse to actuation of the cord-operating means.

8. A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneatha support and having means for tilting the slats, the slat-tilting meansincluding a tilt cord which is shiftable longitudinally of itself, andthe tilt cord having a horizontal run adjacent to the support and towhich a sidepiece of each ladder is connected -wherein the improvementcomrpises:

eyelets along the horizontal run of the tilt cord and affixed thereto,

and barbs on the upper ends of such of the ladder sidepieces as areconnected to the tilt cord,

the barb-equipped ends of the ladder sidepieces being inserted throughthe eyelets and the barbs preventing fortuitous disengagement of theladder sidepieces from the eyelets.

9. A Venetian blind as in claim 8 in which the tilt cord has front andrear horizontal runs that are movable in opposite directions wherein theimprovement additionally comprises:

eyelets along the fromt and rear horizontal runs of the tilt cord andaffixed thereto, I and barbs on the upper ends of the front and rearsidepieces of the ladders, the barbs on the front sidepieces of theladders being inserted through the eyelets that are affixed to the fronthorizontal runs of the tilt cord,

the barbs on the rear sidepieces of the ladders being inserted throughthe eyelets that are affixed to the rear horizontal runs of the tiltcord,

and the barbs preventing fortuitous disengagement of the laddersidepieces from the eyelets. 10. A Venetian blind as in claim 8 whereinthe improvement additionally comprises: the eyelets are of sheet metal,the loop formations of the eyelets are connected to sheet-metal fingers,and the fingers are bent into holding engagement with the tilt cord. 11.A Venetian blind as in claim 9 wherein the improvement additionallycomprises:

the eyelets are of sheet metal, the loop formations of the eyelets areconnected to sheet-metal fingers, and the fingers are bent into holdingengagement with the tilt cord. 12. A Venetian blind as in claim 9wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the eyelets are of sheetmetal, sheet-metal portions extend outwardly from the loop formations ofthe eyelets, sheet-metal fingers project from such outwardlyextendingportions,

the fingers are bent to position the ends of the fingers contiguous tothe tilt cord, and the ends of the fingers are in holding engagementwith the tilt cord. I 13. A Venetian blindas in claim 8 in which thetilt cord has from and rear horizontal runs that are movable in oppositedirections .wherein the improvement additionally comprises:

eyelets along the front and rear horizontal runs of the tilt cord andaffixed thereto, the front and rear horizontal runs to which the eyeletsare affixed being runs that are made of metal or have metal strands,

25 and barbs on the upper ends of the front and rear sidepieces oftheladders, the barbs on the front sidepieces of the ladders beinginserted through the eyelets that are affixed to the front horizontalrun of the tilt cord,

the barbs on the rear sidepieces of the ladders being inserted throughthe eyelets that are affixed to the rear horizontal run of the tiltcord, and the barbs preventing fortuitous disengagement of the laddersidepieces from the eyelets. 14. A Venetian blind as in claim 13 whereinthe improvement additionally comprises: the eyelets are of sheet metal,the loop formations of the eyelets are connected to sheet-metal fingers,and the fingers are bent into holding engagement with the tilt cord. 15.A Venetian blind as in claim 13 wherein the improvement additionallycomprises: the eyelets are of sheet metal, sheet-metal portionsextendoutwardly from the loop formations of the eyelets, sheet-metalfingers project] from such outwardlyextending portions, I g V thefingers are bent to position the ends of the fingers contiguous to thetilt cord, and the ends of the fingers are in holding engagement withthe tilt cord. i v V 16. A Venetian blind as in claim 9 wherein theimprovement additionally comprises:

tilt-cord-operating means which is remote from the horizontal runs ofthe tilt cord, and cord, which constitutes part of the tilt cord,connects the eyelet-carryinghorizontal runs to the tiltcord-operatingmeans, j

slippage being provided upon full tilt being reached.

17. A Venetian blind as in claim 16 in which there 40 cord, whichconstitutes part of the tilt cord, connects the eyelet-carryinghorizontal runs of the tilt cord to the ti'lt-cord-operating means,

and means connects the vertical runs of the lift cord to thelift-cord-operating means.

19. A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneatha support and having means for tilting the slats and means for liftingthe slats, the slattilting means including a tilt cord which isshiftable longitudinally of itself, the tilt cord having front and rearhorizontal runs movable in opposite directions adjacent to the supportand to which the sidepieces of the ladders are connected, and theslat-lifting means including 10 a cord-operating unit which is remotefrom the horizontal runs of the tilt cord, the cord-operating unitincluding tilt-cordoperating and lift-cord-operating means, meansconnects the horizontal runs of the tilt cord to the tilt-cord-operatingmeans,

and means connects the vertical runs of the lift cord to thelift-cord-operating means. 20. A Venetian blind as in claim 19 whereinthe improvement additionally comprises:

20 a common operator for thetilt-cord-operating means and thelift-cord-operating means. 5

21. A Venetian blind as in claim 20 wherein the im provementadditionally comprises: I

the tilt-cord-operating means and i the lift-cordoperating means arerotary,

and the common operatoris in continuous torqueimparting relation to boththe tilt-cord-operating means and the lift-cord operating means. 22. AVenetian blind as in claim 19 wherein the im-v provement additionallycomprises:

a rotary common operator for the tilt-cord-operating means and thelift-cord-operating means,

the common operator is in continuous torqueimparting relation to boththetilt-cord-operating means and the lift-cord-operating means,

and.,slippage is provided at the tilt-cord-operating means upon fulltilting being reached. 23. A Venetian blind as in claim 22 wherein theimprovement additionally comprises:

7 slippage is provided between the common operator and thecord-operating means upon full lifting of the blind being reached. 7

24. A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneatha support and having means for tilting the slats, the slat-tilting meansincluding a tilt cord which is shiftable longitudinally of itself andhas front and rear horizontal runs that are movable in oppositedirections and to which the sidepieces of the ladders are connectedwherein the improvement comprises:

cord-operating means which is located at a distance from the horizontalruns of the tilt cord,

and cord means, which functions as part of the tilt cord, operativelyconnects the horizontal runs of the tilt cord with the cord-operatingmeans,

said cord means including (a) confronting cord portions which can bepulled toward each other to draw the tilt cord taut, and (b) a quickconnector ,for functionally uniting the confronting v cord portionsafter the tilt cord has been drawn taut. 25. A Venetian blind in claim24 wherein the improvement additionally comprises:

the quick connector affords quick release of the confronting cordportions for readjustment and quick reconnection of the confronting cordportions in readjusted relation.

26. A Venetian blind as in claim 24 wherein the improvement additionallycomprises:

the cord-operating means includes a friction drive to the cord meansthat connects the horizontal runs of the tilt cord to the cord-operatingmeans.

27. A Venetian blind as in claim 26 wherein the improvement additionallycomprises:

the frictional drive is a spool member about which cord of the cordmeans is wrapped.

28. A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneatha support and having means for tilting the slats, the slat-tilting meansincluding a tilt cord which is shiftable longitudinally of itself andhas front and rear horizontal runs that are movable in oppositedirections and to which the sidepieces of the ladders are connected-wherein the improvement comprises:

cord-operating means which is located at a distance from the horizontalruns of the tilt cord, cord means, which functions as part of the tiltcord operatively connects the horizontal runs of the tilt cord with thecord-operating means,

and the cord-operating means includes a flexible manually-operated crankarm for driving the cordmanipulating part of the cord-operating means.

cord-manipulating part means.

1. A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneatha support and having means for tilting the slats, the slat-tilting meansincluding a tilt cord which is shiftable loNgitudinally of itself, andthe tilt cord having a horizontal run adjacent to the support and towhich a side-piece of each ladder is connected -wherein the improvementcomprises: eyelets along the horizontal run of the tilt cord, peripheralportions of the eyelets being crimped about the tilt cord and therebyaffixing the eyelets thereto, and barbs on the upper ends of such of theladder sidepieces as are connected to the tilt cord, the barb-equippedends of the ladder sidepieces being inserted through the eyelets and thebarbs preventing fortuitous disengagement of the ladder sidepieces fromthe eyelets.
 2. A Venetian blind as in claim 1 in which the tilt cordhas front and rear horizontal runs that are movable in oppositedirections -wherein the improvement additionally comprises: eyeletsalong the front and rear horizontal runs of the tilt cord, peripheralportions of the eyelets being crimped about the tilt cord and therebyaffixing the eyelets thereto, and barbs on the upper ends of the frontand rear sidepieces of the ladders, the barbs on the front sidepieces ofthe ladders being inserted through the eyelets on the front horizontalrun of the tilt cord, the barbs on the rear sidepieces of the laddersbeing inserted through the eyelets on the rear horizontal run of thetilt cord, and the barbs preventing fortuitous disengagement of theladder sidepieces from the eyelets.
 3. A Venetian blind as in claim 2wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the tilt cord, for atleast a portion of its length, is a double cord and side-by-sidecord-branches in at least the eyelet-affixed portions of the horizontalruns, and the eyelets are crimped about both of the side-by-sidecord-branches.
 4. A Venetian blind as in claim 3 wherein the improvementadditionally comprises: the eyelets having approximately half of theirperipheries crimped about one of the cord-branches and approximatelyhalf of their peripheries crimped about the other of the cord-branches.5. A Venetian blind as in claim 3 in which the improvement additionallycomprises: cord-operating means which is operatively connected to thedouble-cord portion of the tilt cord to shift the double-cord portionlongitudinally of itself for tilting the slats of the blind.
 6. AVenetian blind as in claim 3 wherein the improvement additionallycomprises: cord-operating means which is located at a distance from thehorizontal runs of the tilt cord, and a length of cord, whichconstitutes part of the tilt cord, connects the double-cord portion ofthe tilt cord to the cord-operating means.
 7. A Venetian blind as inclaim 6 in which there is lift-cord means for the slats -wherein theimprovement additionally comprises: the cord-operating means isoperative for pulling in and paying out the lift-cord means, and thelift-cord means is operatively connected to the cord-operating meanswhereby the slats of the blind may be raised and lowered in response toactuation of the cord-operating means.
 8. A Venetian blind having aladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneath a support and having meansfor tilting the slats, the slat-tilting means including a tilt cordwhich is shiftable longitudinally of itself, and the tilt cord having ahorizontal run adjacent to the support and to which a sidepiece of eachladder is connected -wherein the improvement comrpises: eyelets alongthe horizontal run of the tilt cord and affixed thereto, and barbs onthe upper ends of such of the ladder sidepieces as are connected to thetilt cord, the barb-equipped ends of the ladder sidepieces beinginserted through the eyelets and the barbs preventing fortuitousdisengagement of the ladder sidepieces from the eyelets.
 9. A Venetianblind as in claim 8 in which the tilt cord has front and rear horizontalruns that are movable in opposite directions -wherein the improvementadditionally comprises: eyelets along the fromt and rear horizontal runsof the tilt cord and affixed thereto, and barbs on the upper ends of thefront and rear sidepieces of the ladders, the barbs on the frontsidepieces of the ladders being inserted through the eyelets that areaffixed to the front horizontal runs of the tilt cord, the barbs on therear sidepieces of the ladders being inserted through the eyelets thatare affixed to the rear horizontal runs of the tilt cord, and the barbspreventing fortuitous disengagement of the ladder sidepieces from theeyelets.
 10. A Venetian blind as in claim 8 wherein the improvementadditionally comprises: the eyelets are of sheet metal, the loopformations of the eyelets are connected to sheet-metal fingers, and thefingers are bent into holding engagement with the tilt cord.
 11. AVenetian blind as in claim 9 wherein the improvement additionallycomprises: the eyelets are of sheet metal, the loop formations of theeyelets are connected to sheet-metal fingers, and the fingers are bentinto holding engagement with the tilt cord.
 12. A Venetian blind as inclaim 9 wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the eyelets areof sheet metal, sheet-metal portions extend outwardly from the loopformations of the eyelets, sheet-metal fingers project from suchoutwardly-extending portions, the fingers are bent to position the endsof the fingers contiguous to the tilt cord, and the ends of the fingersare in holding engagement with the tilt cord.
 13. A Venetian blind as inclaim 8 in which the tilt cord has front and rear horizontal runs thatare movable in opposite directions -wherein the improvement additionallycomprises: eyelets along the front and rear horizontal runs of the tiltcord and affixed thereto, the front and rear horizontal runs to whichthe eyelets are affixed being runs that are made of metal or have metalstrands, and barbs on the upper ends of the front and rear sidepieces ofthe ladders, the barbs on the front sidepieces of the ladders beinginserted through the eyelets that are affixed to the front horizontalrun of the tilt cord, the barbs on the rear sidepieces of the laddersbeing inserted through the eyelets that are affixed to the rearhorizontal run of the tilt cord, and the barbs preventing fortuitousdisengagement of the ladder sidepieces from the eyelets.
 14. A Venetianblind as in claim 13 wherein the improvement additionally comprises: theeyelets are of sheet metal, the loop formations of the eyelets areconnected to sheet-metal fingers, and the fingers are bent into holdingengagement with the tilt cord.
 15. A Venetian blind as in claim 13wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the eyelets are of sheetmetal, sheet-metal portions extend outwardly from the loop formations ofthe eyelets, sheet-metal fingers project from such outwardly-extendingportions, the fingers are bent to position the ends of the fingerscontiguous to the tilt cord, and the ends of the fingers are in holdingengagement with the tilt cord.
 16. A Venetian blind as in claim 9wherein the improvement additionally comprises: tilt-cord-operatingmeans which is remote from the horizontal runs of the tilt cord, andcord, which constitutes part of the tilt cord, connects theeyelet-carrying horizontal runs to the tilt-cord-operating means,slippage being provided upon full tilt being reached.
 17. A Venetianblind as in claim 16 in which there are lift cords having vertical runs-wherein the improvement additionally comprises: lift-cord-operatingmeans which is adjacent to the tilt-cord-operating means, the verticalruns of the lift cords being connected to the lift-cord-operating means.18. A Venetian blind as in claim 9 in which there are lift cords havingvertical runs -wherein the improvement additionally comprises: acord-operating unit which is remote from tHe horizontal runs of the tiltcord, the cord-operating unit including both tilt-cord-operating meansand lift-cord-operating means, cord, which constitutes part of the tiltcord, connects the eyelet-carrying horizontal runs of the tilt cord tothe tilt-cord-operating means, and means connects the vertical runs ofthe lift cord to the lift-cord-operating means.
 19. A Venetian blindhaving a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneath a support and havingmeans for tilting the slats and means for lifting the slats, theslat-tilting means including a tilt cord which is shiftablelongitudinally of itself, the tilt cord having front and rear horizontalruns movable in opposite directions adjacent to the support and to whichthe sidepieces of the ladders are connected, and the slat-lifting meansincluding lift cords having vertical runs -wherein the improvementcomprises: eyelets along the front and rear horizontal runs of the tiltcord and affixed thereto, barbs on the upper ends of the side pieces ofthe ladders, the barbs being inserted through the eyelets and preventingfortuitous disengagement of the ladder sidepieces from the eyelets, acord-operating unit which is remote from the horizontal runs of the tiltcord, the cord-operating unit including tilt-cord-operating andlift-cord-operating means, means connects the horizontal runs of thetilt cord to the tilt-cord-operating means, and means connects thevertical runs of the lift cord to the lift-cord-operating means.
 20. AVenetian blind as in claim 19 wherein the improvement additionallycomprises: a common operator for the tilt-cord-operating means and thelift-cord-operating means.
 21. A Venetian blind as in claim 20 whereinthe improvement additionally comprises: the tilt-cord-operating meansand the lift-cord-operating means are rotary, and the common operator isin continuous torque-imparting relation to both the tilt-cord-operatingmeans and the lift-cord-operating means.
 22. A Venetian blind as inclaim 19 wherein the improvement additionally comprises: a rotary commonoperator for the tilt-cord-operating means and the lift-cord-operatingmeans, the common operator is in continuous torque-imparting relation toboth the tilt-cord-operating means and the lift-cord-operating means,and slippage is provided at the tilt-cord-operating means upon fulltilting being reached.
 23. A Venetian blind as in claim 22 wherein theimprovement additionally comprises: slippage is provided between thecommon operator and the cord-operating means upon full lifting of theblind being reached.
 24. A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slatassembly suspended beneath a support and having means for tilting theslats, the slat-tilting means including a tilt cord which is shiftablelongitudinally of itself and has front and rear horizontal runs that aremovable in opposite directions and to which the sidepieces of theladders are connected -wherein the improvement comprises: cord-operatingmeans which is located at a distance from the horizontal runs of thetilt cord, and cord means, which functions as part of the tilt cord,operatively connects the horizontal runs of the tilt cord with thecord-operating means, said cord means including (a) confronting cordportions which can be pulled toward each other to draw the tilt cordtaut, and (b) a quick connector for functionally uniting the confrontingcord portions after the tilt cord has been drawn taut.
 25. A Venetianblind as in claim 24 wherein the improvement additionally comprises: thequick connector affords quick release of the confronting cord portionsfor readjustment and quick reconnection of the confronting cord portionsin readjusted relation.
 26. A Venetian blind as in claim 24 wherein theimprovement additionally comprises: the cord-operating means includes afriction drive to the cord means that connects the horizontal runs ofthe tilt cord to the cord-operating means.
 27. A Venetian blind as inclaim 26 wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the frictionaldrive is a spool member about which cord of the cord means is wrapped.28. A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneatha support and having means for tilting the slats, the slat-tilting meansincluding a tilt cord which is shiftable longitudinally of itself andhas front and rear horizontal runs that are movable in oppositedirections and to which the sidepieces of the ladders are connected-wherein the improvement comprises: cord-operating means which islocated at a distance from the horizontal runs of the tilt cord, cordmeans, which functions as part of the tilt cord, operatively connectsthe horizontal runs of the tilt cord with the cord-operating means, andthe cord-operating means includes a flexible manually-operated crank armfor driving the cord-manipulating part of the cord-operating means. 29.A Venetian blind as in claim 28 wherein the improvement additionallycomprises: the flexible crank arm is made of plastic and is frictionallyclamped to form a friction drive to the cord-manipulating part of thecord-operating means.